COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2014

QUESTION NO.34

QUESTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

To ask the manager for a report detailing the number of households presenting as homeless per month for the last 12 months; to detail the number of households housed in emergency hostel/hotel accommodation per month for the last 12 months; to detail the length of time each of these households has remained in emergency accommodation; and to detail the number of households referred to Threshold under the new protocol established in May in response to the rent supplement crisis.

REPLY:

The Homeless Services Unit (HSU) is experiencing an increase in the number of individuals and families presenting to our service. Table 1.1 below details the number of presentations to our daily drop-in clinics. From January 2014, the service is now capturing more statistical information which includes new presentations verses repeat presentation.

Table 1.1        Presentations to Homeless Service Unit

  June Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Total Presentations 319 319 278 260 354 343 207 345 371 346 369 427
Unique Individuals/Family N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 157 169 166 177 176
 Total New Presentations N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 80 66 73 77 75
 Total Repeat Presentations N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 77 103 93 100 101

It should be noted that not all presentations result in the provision of emergency accommodation and service users present to our drop-in clinics for a variety of reasons. The HSU also provides the following services:

Once Initial Homeless Assessment is complete and an emergency bed placement is required, the Council has a number of emergency accommodation options available which includes Temporary Emergency Accommodation (12 week placement); Supported Temporary Accommodation (6 month placement); Private Emergency Accommodation (B&B – 6 month placement).

Due to increased number of families presenting homeless, it has been necessary to use commercial hotels as a means to provide emergency accommodation. Families are placed on a week by week basis until suitable alternative emergency accommodation becomes available.

Table 1.2 below details the number of bed placements secured on a monthly basis for persons / families assessed as requiring emergency bed placement.

 1.2        Emergency Bed Placements

  Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Total No. of Bed Placements 266 192 149 114 135 202 140 247 237 216 183 204
Unique Family / Individuals N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 86 78 96 83 79

Tables 1.3 to 1.6 detail the type of emergency bed placements secured on a monthly basis for persons / families requiring emergency bed placement.

1.3        Emergency Bed Placements – Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) & Supported Temporary Accommodation (STA)

  Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Total No. TEA/STA Placements 36 34 23 19 18 16 16 25 33 27 22 26
TEA/STA – ONO Placements N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 15 25 21 11 21
TEA/STA 6 Mth Placements N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 10 8 6 11 5
Unique Family / Individuals N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 18 13 11 16 14

1.4        Emergency Bed Placements – Hotel Accommodation

  Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Total No. Hotel Placements 121 33 8 14 25 58 56 90 92 81 69 49
Unique Families N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 35 39 47 37 27

1.5        Emergency Bed Placements – Private Emergency Accommodation (PEA)

  Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Total PEA (B&B) Placements 33 37 16 32 45 32 9 13 3 4 2 13
Unique Family / Individuals N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 12 1 4 2 13

1.6        Emergency Bed Placements – One Night Only Placements (ONO)

  Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Total ONO Placements 76 92 102 49 47 96 59 119 109 104 90 70
Unique Individuals N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 33 25 34 34 25

The length of time spent in emergency accommodation varies. Once placed, a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) is carried out with key-workers assigned to services users placed into STA/TEA accommodation. Families placed into PEA or Hotel accommodation are referred to Focus Ireland National Family Case Management Team who will complete a HNA with the family and endeavour to support them out of homelessness through identifying appropriate housing options (including private rented accommodation; social housing; voluntary housing; semi-permanent on-site supported housing and long-term supported housing). The Focus Ireland National Family Case Management Team also identifies supports necessary to maintain tenancies (if required).

On 16th June, the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) in conjunction with Threshold officially launched a new protocol preventing families in private rented accommodation becoming homeless. To date, 20 families / individuals contacted SDCC ‘at risk’ of losing their private accommodation and referrals were issued to Threshold’s Prevention Service.